Nicolas Cage is scared that playing Ronald Reagan will ruin his career

With movies like Left Behind, Outcast, and Stolen in his recent filmography, you might not think that Nicolas Cage ever thinks too deeply about any of the film roles he’s offered before signing on. Apparently that’s not the case, as a report by PageSix suggests the actor is considering turning down an offer to play Ronald Reagan because of how it might negatively affect his career.

Cage is allegedly concerned that staring as the former President would “damage his career,” though it’s not clear how Cage believes such a role would actually do so. Details about the film itself are also scant, and it’s not clear what the plot, supporting cast, or release date might be, whether Cage signs on for the role or not.

Stephen Huvane, Cage’s publicist, refused to talk about the rumored film or Cage’s feelings on it, stating “It’s way too early in the development process.”

Looking at Cage’s most recent work, including USS Indianapolis, Army of One, Dog Eat Dog, The Trust, Pay the Ghost, The Runner, Outcast, Dying of the Light, and Left Behind, only one of his last 10 films — Snowden — has a positive rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. That’s not to say he’s a bad actor, but it’s pretty clear at this point that neither a lack of critical praise nor a positive box office result are keeping him from getting any work. In short, how could playing Ronald Reagan really besmirch Cage’s legacy any more than something like Bangkok Dangerous already has? It just doesn’t seem possible.